Power injector detection

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a signal detector is coupled to an external power source. The signal detector is configured to ascertain whether a predetermined signal was received from the external power source. Control logic is coupled to the signal detector and to the external power source. The control logic is responsive to the signal detector to determine a characteristic of the external power source based on whether the signal detector detected the predetermined signal. The characteristics of the external power supply can be determined based on the frequency, amplitude and duration of a signal received from the power injector. This enables the control logic to determine the power available from an unknown power supply and to configure a device to operate accordingly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/535,923, filed Sep. 27, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,915,761.

BACKGROUND

In many applications, it is desirable to know the characteristics of anunknown source of power. For example, a device may need to know theamount of power available from an unknown power supply so it candetermine whether the power is sufficient to operate the device and/orto adjust the operating characteristics of the device so that theoperational configuration of the device corresponds to thecharacteristics of the power source.

As an example of the aforementioned problem, next generation accesspoints (APs) are expected to draw more power than the 13 W allowed bythe International Electrical and Electronic Engineer's (IEEE) 802.3specification. Accordingly, a new midspan power injector is beingdeveloped to provide this extra power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for power injector detection.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example signal detector.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example AP receiving power from a Power overEthernet source.

FIG. 4 illustrates example control logic.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example methodology for Power Injector Detection.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example power signal with an injector tone.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example signal diagram of an injector tone signal.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example circuit for generating a power injectordiscovery tone signal.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments illustrated and described herein are but examples and donot limit the scope of the present invention, as claimed. The figuresgenerally indicate the features of example embodiments, where it isunderstood and appreciated that like reference numerals are used torefer to like elements.

There is described herein a system and method for power injectordetection. In a preferred embodiment, during the initial power phase,once the voltage rail has reached full amplitude, the rail is forced tosend a discovery tone (e.g. oscillate) for a fixed period. For example,the discovery tone can be a 6 volt, 500 Hz signal sent for 100milliseconds (msec). For example, if the output of the power injector is56V, then the output of the injector actually oscillates between 50V and56V for 100 msec after power up. By detecting whether the discovery toneis sent, a device can determine the type and/or characteristics of anunknown power supply connected to the device. This can enable the deviceto configure itself accordingly. Also, the frequency, amplitude,duration and/or any other characteristic of the tone signal (e.g. phase)can be varied to advertise the operating characteristics (e.g. maximumpower, voltage, current, power factor etc.) of the power supply. In apreferred embodiment, the tone amplitude will be 6V peak to peak, withina 15% tolerance, the tone will have a frequency of 500 Hz with a 15%tolerance and the tone will have a duration of 100 msec with a 15%tolerance.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for power injector detection.System 100 comprises inputs 112 for receiving power from an externalpower source. For example, inputs 112 can receive power from a Powerover Ethernet (PoE) connection, a DC ‘brick’ (with correspondingpositive “+” and negative or ground “−” inputs) or an AC signal. Inaddition to receiving power from an external power source, as will bedescribed herein, system 100 is configured for power injector detection.

Signal detector 102 receives power from inputs 112. Signal detector 102is configured to ascertain whether a predetermined signal from theexternal power source is present. The predetermined signal may beidentified by such characteristics as frequency, amplitude, durationand/or the time period the signal is received from the external powersource via inputs 112. Furthermore, if the predetermined signal ispresent, characteristics of the predetermined signal, including but notlimited to, frequency, amplitude, duration, and/or time period of thesignal may be varied to advertise the properties of the external powersource (e.g. maximum power, operating voltage, operating current, powerfactor, etc.).

Control logic 104 is coupled to signal detector 104 via path 108 and theexternal power source via inputs 112. Control logic 104 is responsive tosignal detector 102 to determine a characteristic of the external powersource based on whether the signal detector detected the predeterminedsignal. For example, if the predetermined signal is not detected, thencontrol logic 104 can assume the external power source is a legacy powersource. If the predetermined signal is detected, control logic 104 canassume the external power source has a certain predeterminedcharacteristic.

In an example embodiment, signal detector 102 determines whether thepredetermined signal is present during a predetermined time period. Thisis beneficial because continuously impressing the predetermined signal(tone) by the power supply can introduce noise into system 100, which isundesirable. In a preferred embodiment, signal detector 102 determineswhether the predetermined signal is present during a time periodimmediately after power is supplied, for example within the first 100msec.

Control logic 104 is coupled to at least one module 106 via path 110.Control logic 104 is operable to provide power to module 106 based onwhether signal detector 102 detects the predetermined signal, whichsignal detector 102 communicates to control logic 104 via path 108. Forexample, control logic 104 can provide full power to module 106 if thepredetermined signal is detected, can provide partial power to module106 if the predetermined signal is not detected, or can deactivatesystem 100 if the predetermined signal is not detected.

As an example, system 100 can suitably comprise an access point (AP)that receives power from a distribution network via power over Ethernet(PoE). Power from the PoE source is supplied by a DC voltage that isreceived on inputs 112. Signal detector 102 then determines whether apredetermined signal (tone) is received during a predetermined timeperiod, such as within the first 100 msec of power being provided fromthe external PoE source (commonly referred to as a midpan injector).Signal detector 102 sends the results of whether the tone was detectedvia path 108 to control logic 104. Module 106 may suitably comprise aplurality of wireless transceivers (e.g. radio frequency “RF,” infra-red“IR,” and/or optical). Based on whether the tone was received, controllogic 104 determines which of the wireless transceivers in module 106are provided with power. For example, if the tone is received, thencontrol logic 104 assumes the external power source (e.g. midspaninjector) has sufficient capacity to power all of the wirelesstransceivers in module 106 and accordingly is operable to have powerprovided to all of the wireless transceivers in module 106.

However, if the tone was not detected, then control logic 104 can assumethe external power source is a legacy power source and select anoperating mode appropriate for a lower power source. For example,control logic may select only one or more of the plurality of wirelesstransceivers in module 106 to be powered or reduce the functionality ofthe plurality of wireless transceivers in module 106. Other alternativesinclude, but are not limited to, reducing radio transceiver TX power,reducing data link rates (e.g. enabling Ethernet at 100 Mbit/s asopposed to 1 Gbit/s), reducing CPU rates (either in main system CPU ortransceiver local processors) which limits system data throughput,and/or deactivating system 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a signal detector 200. Signal detector200 is suitable to perform the functionality of signal detector 102(FIG. 1). A resistive network comprising resistors 202 and 204 arecoupled between the input voltage terminals (+) and (−). DC Power Supply206 is coupled to the external power supply and is operative to providepower when power is being supplied by the external power supply. DCpower supply 206 provides power to microcontroller 210 and analog todigital converter (ADC) 208.

In operation, the values of resistors 202 and 204 are selected so thatthe input of ADC 208 is at a desired level, such as within theoperational range of ADC 208. ADC 208 converts the predetermined signal(tone) to a suitable level for Microcontroller 210.

In a preferred embodiment, a controllable switching device (transistor)212 is coupled to microcontroller 210. A resistance comprising resistors214, 216 is coupled to transistor 212. Power supply 206 provides powerto resistors 214, 216 and transistor 212. Transistor 212 switches on toconduct current responsive to a signal from microcontroller 210.Microcontroller 210 can be configured to switch on transistor 210 whileascertaining whether the predetermined signal is present and switch offthe transistor 210 when not ascertaining whether the predeterminedsignal is present. Switching on transistor 210 has the effect oflowering the input resistance of signal detector 200.

Lowering the input resistance of signal detector 200 is desirable formaximizing signal current. Also, it is desirable to provide a constantload to prevent distorting the signal. For example, referring to FIG. 3,there is illustrated an example of an AP 302 receiving power from aPower over Ethernet (PoE) source 304. Cable 306 coupling PoE source 304to AP 302 has an inductance, capacitance and resistance, which as thelength of the cable increases can be significant, and filter (distort)the predetermined signal. AP 302 has a variable resistance, which can belowered while trying to detect the predetermined signal (e.g. by turningon transistor 212 is using a signal detector configured like signaldetector 200) to minimize distortion.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a computer system 400 capable forperforming the functionality of control logic 104 (FIG. 1) and/or thefunctionality of microcontroller 210 (FIG. 2). Computer system 400includes a bus 402 or other communication mechanism for communicatinginformation and a processor 404 coupled with bus 402 for processinginformation. Computer system 400 also includes a main memory 406, suchas random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device coupled tobus 402 for storing information and instructions to be executed byprocessor 404. Main memory 406 also may be used for storing a temporaryvariable or other intermediate information during execution ofinstructions to be executed by processor 404. Computer system 400further includes a read only memory (ROM) 408 or other static storagedevice coupled to bus 402 for storing static information andinstructions for processor 404. A storage device 410, such as a magneticdisk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 402 for storinginformation and instructions.

Computer system 400 can be used for Power Injector Detection. Accordingto one embodiment of the invention, Power Injector Detection is providedby computer system 400 in response to processor 404 executing one ormore sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 406.Such instructions may be read into main memory 406 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as storage device 410. Execution of thesequence of instructions contained in main memory 406 causes processor404 to perform the process steps described herein. One or moreprocessors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed toexecute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 406. Inalternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of orin combination with software instructions to implement the invention.Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specificcombination of hardware circuitry and software.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor 404 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media include for example optical or magnetic disks, suchas storage device 410. Volatile media include dynamic memory such asmain memory 406. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wireand fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 402.Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light wavessuch as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR)data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include forexample floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,an EPROM, a FLASHPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrierwave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computercan read.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 404 forexecution. For example, the instructions may initially be borne on amagnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over atelephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 400 canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitterto convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector coupledto bus 402 can receive the data carried in the infrared signal and placethe data on bus 402. Bus 402 carries the data to main memory 406 fromwhich processor 404 retrieves and executes the instructions. Theinstructions received by main memory 406 may optionally be stored onstorage device 410 either before or after execution by processor 404.

In view of the foregoing structural and functional features describedabove, a methodology will be better appreciated with reference to FIG.5. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodology ofFIG. 5 is shown and described as executing serially, it is to beunderstood and appreciated that the present invention is not limited bythe illustrated order, as some aspects could, in accordance with thepresent invention, occur in different orders and/or concurrently withother aspects from that shown and described herein. Moreover, not allillustrated features may be required to implement a methodology.Embodiments of the present invention are suitably adapted to implementthe methodology in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example methodology 500 for Power InjectorDetection. At 502, power is received from the injector. The power may bereceived by any physical realizable manner. At 504, an attempt is madeto detect a predetermined signal (e.g. a tone signal). The tone signalcan have any predetermined characteristics such as a predeterminedfrequency (e.g. 500 Hz), a predetermined amplitude (e.g. 6V), apredetermined duration (e.g. 100 msec), and/or a predetermined timeperiod (e.g. within 100 msec of when power is received).

At 506, it is determined whether the predetermined signal was detected.If the signal was detected (YES) then at 508 the power supplycharacteristics are determined. For example, in a preferred embodiment,the detection of a 500 Hz, 6V peak-to-peak, 100 msec signal can beindicative of a power supply capable of supplying over 30 W andoperating at 56V. Moreover, any one (or more) of the signal parameters(e.g., frequency, amplitude, duration, etc) can be varied to indicatespecific characteristics of the power supply. For example, the amplitudecan be indicative of the power supply's maximum power capacity and thefrequency can be indicative of the power supply's voltage (or current)level.

If at 506 it is determined that the predetermined signal was not found(NO), then at 510 default settings can be used. For example, if thepredetermined signal is not found, it can be assumed that a legacy powerinjector is supplying power and the voltage, current and/or powercharacteristics of the legacy power supply are used.

At 512, power is provided to at least one module. The number oroperating parameters of the at least one module is responsive to thepower supply characteristic determined at 508 or the default settingsfrom 510. For example, if the device is a wireless access point (AP)with a plurality of wireless transceivers, if at 506 the predeterminedsignal was not detected, the AP activates a lower number of wirelesstransceiver, or operates the wireless transceivers at lower power levelsthan if the predetermined signal was detected.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a circuit 800 for generating a powerinjector discovery tone signal. The power injector discovery tone signalis used to advertise the operating characteristics of the power supply.The system 800 comprises a power source (power supply) 802 that providesthe power. Power is supplied to a device via conductors 804, 806. Signalgenerator 808 produces a predetermined signal (e.g. a tone) indicativeof a characteristic of power supply 802. Signal generator 808 isoperably coupled to and controlled by control logic 810. Control logic810 and signal generator 808 receive power from power supply 802.

In operation, control logic 810 operates signal generator 808 to send atone signal. In one embodiment, the tone frequency, amplitude, andduration are fixed, and control logic 810 merely switches signalgenerator 808 on and off. While signal generator 808 is switched off,the signal from power supply 802 is passed through unchanged. In anotherembodiment, control logic 810 is operable to control the frequency,amplitude, duration, etc. of the signal sent by signal generator 808.For example, control logic 810 can switch signal generator on 808 oncepower supply 802 has reached its rated voltage and have signal generator808 generate a signal with predetermined characteristics.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example signal diagram of power signal 600 with aninjector tone. As can be observed from FIG. 6, a tone signal 602 is sentshortly after the power supply achieves its rated voltage, which in thisexample is 56V. After 100 msec, the tone signal stops and the regularpower signal is received as illustrated at 604. FIG. 7 illustrates anexample detailed signal diagram 700 of injector tone signal 602.

What has been described above includes example implementations of thepresent invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that many further combinations and permutations of thepresent invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims interpretedin accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally andequitably entitled.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a power source;control logic coupled to the power source; and a signal generatorcoupled to the power source and the control logic; wherein the signalgenerator is responsive to the control logic to transmit a predeterminedsignal having a signal parameter for providing information correspondingto at least one characteristic of the power source.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the signal parameter is one of a groupconsisting of frequency, amplitude and duration of the predeterminedsignal.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal parameteris two of the group consisting of frequency, amplitude and duration ofthe predetermined signal.
 4. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe signal parameter includes frequency, amplitude and duration of thepredetermined signal.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol logic has the signal generator generate the predetermined signalduring a predetermined time period.
 6. The system according to claim 5,wherein the predetermined time period is a first one hundredmilliseconds of power being provided by the power source.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the control logic causes the signalgenerator to transmit the signal responsive to the power sourceachieving rated voltage.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein theat least one characteristic of the power source is maximum power.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic ofthe power source is voltage.
 10. The system according to claim 1,wherein the at least one characteristic of the power source is current.11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least onecharacteristic of the power source is a power factor.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a direct current powersupply and the predetermined signal is an alternating current signal.13. A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions storedthereon for execution by a processor, and when executed by a processoroperable to: obtain data representative of at least one characteristicof an associated power supply; and cause a tone signal to be transmittedwith a power signal to a device receiving power from the associatedpower supply, the tone signal having at least one parameter forproviding information corresponding to the at least one characteristicof the associated power supply.
 14. The computer readable medium setforth in claim 13, wherein the tone signal parameter is one of a groupconsisting of frequency, amplitude and duration of the predeterminedsignal.
 15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, where the at leastone characteristic of the power supply is selected from a groupconsisting of maximum power, voltage, current, and power factor.
 16. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions arefurther operable to have the tone signal generated during apredetermined time period.
 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16,wherein the instructions are further operable to determine when thepower supply has achieved rated voltage; and wherein the predeterminedtime period begins responsive to the power supply achieving ratedvoltage.
 18. The method set forth in claim 17, wherein the at least onecharacteristic of the associated power supply is selected from a groupconsisting of maximum power, voltage, current, and power factor.
 19. Themethod set forth in claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter isselected from a group consisting of frequency, amplitude and duration ofthe predetermined signal.
 20. A method, comprising: providing a powersignal to a powered device; obtaining data representative of at leastone characteristic of an associated power supply; and transmitting atone signal having at least one parameter for providing informationcorresponding to the at least one characteristic of the power supply;wherein the tone signal is sent with the power signal to the powereddevice.